For the past month, members of a new unit of the Norwich Police Department have been leaving their cars and hitting the city’s sidewalks.

“It’s a blast to walk,” said Sgt. Peter Camp, a 16-year veteran of the department. Camp leads the new Community Policing Unit and spent most of a year organizing it. “You see a lot more, and you’re more in tune with your surroundings.”

The community policing program started Oct. 28 with Camp and six veteran officers who volunteered to join the program. It was paid for through a $246,000 federal grant the city applied for and received.

“What we wanted were some seasoned veterans,” Camp said. “I wanted people who would think problems through. ... They’re very, very dedicated officers.”

Most days, two-officer teams patrol in downtown, Greeneville and Taftville. They drive to a neighborhood then get out and walk. When the weather gets warmer, they will ride bikes, as well, Camp said.

For now, the patrols work the 4 p.m. to midnight shift Tuesdays through Saturdays. In 2013, Camp said, the goal is to expand the program to days and evenings seven days a week.

Unlike ordinary patrol officers, members of the community policing unit don’t respond to routine radio calls.

“It’s a chance to work more on certain problems in certain neighborhoods,” Officer Joel Grispino said. “People get a chance to know us.”

“It gives us a chance to follow through,” Officer Dan Collins said.

Much of their job is to work with residents and business owners in their neighborhoods, such as organizing and supporting crime watches. They also work closely with other city agencies to help solve residents’ problems.

“We don’t do everything, but we know people who can do everything,” Camp said.

He cited an example of a light that was malfunctioning and blinking yellow recently at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Place. Fixing it wasn’t a high priority for Norwich Public Utilities, Camp said, because drivers weren’t being inconvenienced much.

But the continually moving traffic was inconveniencing patrons of the nearby Otis Library. Most park in a lot on Cliff Street and cross Main Street at that intersection. The situation was something Camp said probably wouldn’t have been noticed by police driving by on patrol. Instead, he explained the situation to NPU officials, and the light quickly was fixed, he said.

“A lot of what it is is a presence in the neighborhood,” Camp said. “Our goal is to reduce the fear of crime. We want people who live in the city, who visit the city, to feel safe.”

On Thursday, officers from the unit stopped by the library to introduce themselves to the staff. The two officers handed out their cards so they could be called directly if needed.

Page 2 of 2 - Business manager Tracey Miller said she appreciates it. “I think they need to make their presence known,” she said.

“People are happy to see us out there,” Collins said. “They know they can just contact us.”

“It’s a good idea,” said Jerry Navick, co-owner of the Leader Stores on Central Avenue in Greeneville. “We’d love to have them around. Anytime you have a (police) presence, it helps.”

Navick said police are needed because of people congregating in front of the store who sometimes make customers uncomfortable.

“It’s great,” said Murray Navick, his brother and store co-owner. “I wish it happened two years ago.”

On Cliff Street near the soup kitchen in the former St. Joseph School, where the presence of soup kitchen users has been opposed by some neighbors, Troel Hamilton said she sees police officers in the area often.

“Police have been up here a lot, and I like it,” she said.

Bob Shah, owner of P&M Market on South Second Street in Taftville, said a police officer stopped by a few weeks ago to introduce himself and talk, but overall, he hasn’t seen much of a police presence around his store.

Shah said he’d welcome community policing patrols — or the ordinary kind, for that matter.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on here,” he said.

Officer Harrison Formiglio warned community policing is just getting started and has a long way to go. “We’re still in the baby-steps phase,” he said.

The other members of the unit are Tom Lazzaro and Kyle Vesse.

Camp urged people to let them know how they can help. “Feedback would be great,” he said. “We want to hear — good or bad.”